§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the operation and success of each of the secure training centres since opening; for each of the centres(a) what percentage of children breached their orders, (b) what percentage of children re-offended during the period of their order, (c) what percentage of children has been reconvicted during the period of their order, (d) what assessment has been made of the provision of education and training, (e) what percentage of staff has experience of working with children, (f) how many and what percentage of the total number of staff have resigned since each centre opened, (g) how many incidents of self harm have been recorded, (h) how many incidents of concerted indiscipline have been recorded, (i) how many assaults on staff have been recorded and (j) what is the total amount of payment reductions for contract failures; and if he will make a statement. [135581]
§ Mr. BoatengEach secure training centre (STC) is subject to comprehensive inspection by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), who may be accompanied by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and by one or more of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools (OFSTED), at least once every three years. There are also annual inspections to check that the secure training centre is meeting core requirements. Other inspections, with or without notice, can take place at any time of the year; and each centre is subject to a pre-opening inspection. Annual and triennial inspection reports are placed in the House of Commons Library as they become available.
The Inspectors' reports show that, after significant initial operational difficulties at the first STC, Medway, both it and the newer centres at Rainsbrook and Hassockfield have progressively developed to provide a good standard, comprehensive regime for difficult young juveniles. 246W
(a) The Secure Training Order (STO) was available from March 1998 to March 2000. 379 children received STOs of whom 319 went to STCs, and the others to local authority secure units. 20 per cent. of those who went to Medway, 8 per cent. of those who went to Rainsbrook and 4 per cent. of those who went to Hassockfield were returned to custody for breach of STO supervision.The STO was replaced by the Detention and Training Order (DTO) in April 2000. Information on DTO breaches is not held centrally.
(b) and (c) This information is not collected routinely but research is under way. The report of the Policy Research Bureau into the first year at Medway "Evaluation of Medway Secure Training Centre", released on 4 October 2000, recorded a 67 per cent. re-offending rate for those at that establishment. Wider research commissioned by the Youth Justice Board into DTO re-offending is being carried out by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO), the Centre for Crimes and Justice Studies and the Policy Research Bureau. Results are expected in March 2002.(d) Home Office monitors based at each STC ensure that the terms of the contracts including on education and training are met on a daily basis. The SSI's annual and triennial inspection reports are in the Library.(e) This information is not available. The contracts specify minimum qualifications, skills and experience requirements. All staff receive Home Office-approved training in understanding and dealing with disturbed adolescents.(f) The number and percentage of staff (custody and teaching staff) who have resigned since each centre opened is as follows:
Opened Resignations Percentage Medway 17 April 1998 123 45 Rainsbrook 1 July 1999 43 28 Hassockfield 17 September 1999 49 35 (g), (h) and (i) Recorded incidents of self harm, concerted indiscipline and assaults on staff are as follows:
Self harm Concerted indiscipline Assaults1 on staff Medway 32 43 193 Rainsbrook 36 3 56 Hassockfield 16 19 33 1 Assaults exclude "pushing and shoving" (j) To date, financial penalties reflecting contract failures by the Operating Contractor at each STC total £663,240 (Medway); £ 155,152 (Rainsbrook); and £45,808 (Hassockfield). These cover failure to meet the scheduled opening date of the STC, non-availability of trainee places and failure to deliver specified services.